UC and chronic constipation

I know that many people experience the exact opposite and are constantly going to the washroom ... However I tend to be the opposite and experience awful constipation. I just recently had a colonoscopy a month ago and then another one yesterday for my doctor to see how I was progressing. I am still very inflammed in my lower intestine and have scaring in the rectum and inflammation.

I have bleeding and lots of gas a mucus and often feel like I have to go to the WR, but then only have the gas and pains. I have had to use over the counter laxatives to get relief ... but would like to find another solution to my problem.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Thanks I will give it a try. I have been to the health food store and also have seen some teas that apparently have a laxative effect so I will have to read the ingredients to see if basil is one of them.

Before I got UC, I often got constipated...so of course when I got UC, I could barely believe that now I have the exact opposite problem. Also, right before I got UC, I was really constipated for about a month. The only advice I've been told is to drink lots of water (when I was really constipated they told me to drink 3 liters a day) and to eat more fiber. Regular exercise can sometimes help get things moving too...even just taking a walk every day can help sometimes.

Instead of taking laxatives, I think it would be better to take stool softeners instead (not long term), if you have to take something. That's what a doctor told me to do when I had that problem. Although right after I took them a couple days in a row, the explosive never-ending "D" started, but I doubt it was related. Have you asked your doctor for suggestions?

My UC used to always show itself (in flares) with D and urgency. For the last few years, it's been the constipation and having to work hard for a BM. It scared me before I had my aneurysm repaired because I swear the pushing was going to burst the aneurysm. Anyway, what helps me is Metamucill and Collace Stool Softner. When I am not in a flare I take two of each, twice a day. When I am in a flare I take them three times a day. It seems to help. I also drink a lot of water and walk as exercise.

Interesting that none of you remember that very low in the rectum inflammation will cause constipation. It's really a first sign of a flare coming on or the last area to heal....

Laxatives cause the colon to become ..... LAX....not what we need when having UC. The colon is very smart and takes the easy way out if it can.

One should try to add fibre supplements to encourage exercise of the digestive tract...it'll help encourage good peristalsis to keep things moving, or from becoming spasmodic.

With constipation, the colon slows down and stool becomes harder. The rectum...being inflamed...will send messages that it's not working right and slow the process of "use".

Higher in the rectum inlammation will cause a looser stool...it'll take over the reactions and rush stuff out....higher than that will cause diarrhea..much easier on the rectum from my perspective, but usually more bms, etc.

Never "ends"....but recognise that other things could be happening that will encourage us to start rectal meds and intervene on inflammation that could halt some flares very early.

Based on my experience and what I've learned from my doc and research.

quincy

Heather,

Once again, very sage advice from one smart cookie. I looked it up this time.

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cookie, first entry, definition 3a

Thanks for your help!

Hi everyone, I am new to this forum.  I read Quincy's post regarding the constipation being caused by the inflamation in the rectum.  I have been using Canasa when I start to see blood and usually it will do the trick in a couple of days.  This last time, I saw blood on Sunday, started using Canasa, but by Wednesday was so constipated I was miserable.  It took me a few days, but the next Sunday I was having what I considered d and constipation and bad bleeding.  Went back to doc and I am now back on Prednisone. I had not changed my diet, been trying to eat right, take fiber, yoga, etc.  I have had a lot of stress at work for the past few weeks.  Anyway, the point I wanted to make is that my rectum has never completely felt healed since my initial UC diagnosis in November 2007.  It feels healed to a certain point, then it just doesn't seem to get any better.  I have told my GI this and he doesn't seem to have an opinion about it one way or the other.  There is especially one spot which I almost feel like I could touch  that is sore (sorry if that sounds to gross). Also when I went to the doc on Tuesday, he was concerned because he says constipation is not ususally a symptom of UC, so I was relieved to see other people have this with UC. 

I have been reading your posts since I was diagnosed last year finally decided to get on board because people who don't suffer from this have no clue what people go through.  The folks on this forum offer great advice and seem like very nice people.  I hope to be chatting with you frequently, since I don't really have anyone close to me with this problem.  Most people don't want to hear about your bowel problems.

Thanks everyone for all your great advice.